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While every plant needs some light to survive, even a dimly lit interior can have plants. The best choices are plants that naturally grow in the shade of taller plants in a forest or jungle, where little sunlight penetrates to the ground. These plants will actually scorch in direct sunlight. They usually have big, green leaves with lots of chlorophyll for processing what little light they get into nutrition.

Dracaenas

Many good low-light choices exist in this dramatic-looking group of plants originally from Africa, including the corn plant (Dracaena fragrans), whose long, broad leaves resemble corn stalks; and the Madagascar dragon tree (Dracaena marginata), which has a rosette of long, thin, pointy leaves on top of a slender, woody stem. Many dracaenas, pronounced "dra-SEE-na," have colored stripes on the leaves, but these will fade in dim light. They are often planted with two or three plants of different heights in the same pot. Keep dracaenas out of drafts, and water once or twice a week from spring to fall. The corn plant prefers a more humid environment than the dragon tree.

Aglaonema

The Chinese evergreen or painted drop tongue (Aglaonema) is renowned for its ability to thrive in poor light. This upright plant from Southeast Asia requires warmth and will suffer in a cold, drafty location. It has handsome, tongue-shaped leaves and can grow to 3 feet tall. The cultivar "Silver Queen" has white patches over the green and still survives in low light. Water freely in summer, but in winter keep the soil only moist. Add a weak liquid fertilizer from early spring to late summer.

Japanese Fatsia

Japanese fatsia (Fatsia japonica), also called Japanese aralia, has striking leaves with seven lobes like fat fingers radiating from a central point. Outdoors, it grows into a large shrub, but it can be kept smaller indoors. Cut it back in spring to keep it to a comfortable size; it can withstand drastic pruning. Fatsia prefers cool weather, getting floppy and weak in high temperatures. Keep the soil moist at all times, and spray it with water every couple of days in hot weather.

Peace Lily

The peace lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii) tolerates lower light levels than many plants. It has glossy, boat-shaped, dark green leaves and white flower-like spathes that remain in good condition for several weeks and smell faintly of peppermint. This South American plant prefers a humid environment at room temperature. Keep the soil moist in spring and summer, but allow the top to dry out before rewatering in fall and winter. Fertilize with a weak liquid fertilizer every two weeks in spring and summer.

About the Author

Emily Goodman is a writer and editor based in Brooklyn, N.Y. She has more than 15 years of experience as a journalist, writer and book editor. Also a trained gardener, Goodman's award-winning children's book, "Plant Secrets," was published by Charlesbridge in 2009.